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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.